SeaTac Airport to offer rapid COVID 19 testing by appointment (Seattle: insurance, hotel)

[homesinseattle]

“Starting Thursday, anyone with a plane ticket will be able to get a COVID-19 test at Sea-Tac Airport before their flight, but it will cost $250. Travelers must schedule an appointment online first, up to 72 hours before their flight. The testing center will be available seven days a week from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. This is a pilot program that will run through Jan. 31, 2021, but could be extended if the Port of Seattle finds a vendor who can offer testing services further into 2021”.

[Sockeye66]

Also, King County has some good sites set up for testing. https://kingcounty.gov/depts/health/covid-19.aspx
I've tested at the Renton facility twice (former vehicle emissions testing site) and both times had results in under 12 hours.

There is no cost out of pocket for this testing, medical insurance billed if you have it, no charge if you don't.

Medical referral, suspected symptoms, or known exposure not required. I tested after managing a day project involving 23 temp laborers and after air travel to Tucson and two weeks in S. AZ.

Go online to schedule but (at least Renton) walk-ins welcome too.

[myname_isborat]

Nice money grab during a health crisis. How about incentivizing people to get the test instead. We paid about $30 each this summer for a 4 hour PCR test at the Istanbul airport.

[Botev1912]

$250 per test is a theft. I will be very surprised if many people use this.

[Sockeye66]

Originally Posted by myname_isborat

Nice money grab during a health crisis. How about incentivizing people to get the test instead. We paid about $30 each this summer for a 4 hour PCR test at the Istanbul airport.

Airfare to Istanbul will cost a lot more than the $220 difference.

They're likely using the Abbot ID Now (or similar) quick test and good for them. It's quicker results but not as accurate.

SeaTac tests will be analyzed through the UW lab, the US leader in testing.

[Sockeye66]

Originally Posted by Botev1912

$250 per test is a theft. I will be very surprised if many people use this.

For those wanting or needing to travel to many destination they will be required to test before embarking.

Ex.- If you have a trip scheduled to Hawaii and want to avoid the 14 day quarantine pre-testing is the solution. I'd spend the $250 to avoid being stuck in my hotel room for two weeks.

[StealthRabbit]

https://www.washingtonpost.com/trave...covid-testing/
https://www.afar.com/magazine/these-...vid-19-testing

Yeah, Had to spend $75 for the $1.72 (cost basis) test last week. Hopefully the Yale test (Approved Aug 2020) will be available for $5 soon. (after elections?)

Jump on the FREE options in Seattle if you need to test often of a day before flight.

Other cities do free testing a few times / month with LONG lines and lots of (sick) people.

[myname_isborat]

Originally Posted by Sockeye66

Airfare to Istanbul will cost a lot more than the $220 difference.

They're likely using the Abbot ID Now (or similar) quick test and good for them. It's quicker results but not as accurate.

SeaTac tests will be analyzed through the UW lab, the US leader in testing.

Not familiar with the test you are talking about. PCR test is not a rapid test like what drugstores have been offering. It takes a few hours to get the results and the test all countries require Americans to take, that is the ones that still accept us. Still think $250 is counterproductive to what they are attempting to do no matter how you shake it.

[Sockeye66]

Originally Posted by myname_isborat

Not familiar with the test you are talking about. PCR test is not a rapid test like what drugstores have been offering. It takes a few hours to get the results and the test all countries require Americans to take, that is the ones that still accept us. Still think $250 is counterproductive to what they are attempting to do no matter how you shake it.

The Abbot ID is for PCR testing too. Serology testing that's looking for anti-bodies is the typical over the counter quick test that only tells you if you've had it but not necessarily if you currently do.



As noted in my earlier post there is no-cost testing available at a number of King County sites.

[dav51lin]

i wont be flying till this is all over